Akhmeteli–Varketili Line
Overview
Native name	ახმეტელი-ვარკეთილის ხაზი
Stations	16
Service
Type	Rapid transit
System	Tbilisi Metro
Operator(s)	Tbilisi Transport Company
History
Opened	1966-1989
Technical
Line length	19.6 km (12.2 mi)
Route map Akhmetelis Teatri Sarajishvili Guramishvili Ghrmaghele Didube Gotsiridze Nadzaladevi Station Square 2 Marjanishvili Rustaveli Tavisuplebis Moedani Avlabari Samasi Aragveli Isani Samgori Varketili

The Akhmeteli–Varketili Line (Georgian: ახმეტელი-ვარკეთილის ხაზი) (formerly known as Didube–Samgori and Gldani–Varketili and also going by the name: First Line) is a line of the Tbilisi Metro. The line was part of the first stage of the Metro and currently cuts the city on a north–south axis. The line currently has 16 stations and 19.6 kilometres of track.^[1]

History

Transfers

Rolling stock

The line is served by the Gldani depot (№2), currently 24 four carriage trains are assigned to it. A mix of Еzh3, Еma-502, Еm-508T as well as the newer 81-714.5, 81-717.5. Additional Ezh3 and Em-508T subway cars were received in 1985 from Tashkent metro. All of the trains are undergoing major repairs and there is also a large carriage reserve park. All the other trains are being retired and scrapped. Type Ezh, Ezh1, was retired from passenger service in 2013. Until 2010, type E was in service since the very opening of the metro. The modernization of the existing fleet includes serious change in the train's interior and exterior, thus replacing the original seats with antivandal seats, the trains receive a new front mask which is with a dot matrix display on the top part. The light system in the interior is refurbished. The trains are repainted into silver grey and red livery. They receive a modification of 81-717M/81-714M, identical to the 81-71M in Prague metro. Similar refurbishments were made for Baku and Yerevan metro.

Recent developments and future plans

Because some of the stations have been operative for over four decades, as well as neglect caused by the lack of funding during the 1990s, most of them require a major facelift and some severe repairs on hydroisolation and structure. Recently there has been progress in both directions. There are unconfirmed proposals of additional proposals, but so far Tbilisi has other projects to be realised.

In February 2021, renovation works began to take place at the Gotsiridze station, and was scheduled to be completed within 3 months. Trains did not stop while construction works were in progress, passing through the station.^[3] However, due to the failure of the previous contractor to fulfill the obligations and the need to switch to another contractor, reconstruction works were only completed on 18 March 2023. Facilities dedicated to the disabled such as new elevators and tactile paths were installed.^[4]

References